English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Raze to the ground
Meaning
The idiom "raze to the ground" means to completely destroy or demolish something, often including its foundations and all structures on top of it. It can also mean to reduce something to a state of complete ruin or devastation.
Usage
- The construction company was tasked with razing the old building to the ground and starting fresh.
- When the tornado hit the town, it left nothing but rubble and debris, as if everything had been rased to the ground.
- The hurricane had such a powerful wind that even the strongest structures were no match for it and were completely razed to the ground.
- After losing the game, the team's morale was so low that they seemed to be rased to the ground.
- The earthquake caused widespread destruction, leaving nothing but ruins and debris in its wake, as if everything had been rased to the ground.
Roots and History
The idiom "raze to the ground" has its origins in Old English and it was originally used to describe the process of completely destroying a structure by removing all of its supports and foundations. Over time, the meaning of the phrase has evolved to include any complete devastation or destruction that leaves nothing behind.
Synonyms in English
- demolish
- destroy
- tear down
- obliterate
- annihilate
Synonyms in other languages
- French - détruire
- Spanish - destruir
- Italian - distrugere
- German - zerstören
- Portuguese - demolir